Rail-joint



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

M. C RAIL J s I g A 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Patented Oct M. 0. NILES.

RAIL JOINT.

III

(No Model.) 7

3 SheetsSheet 3.

M. G. NILES. RAIL JOINT.

(No Model.)

No. 484,228. Patented 001;. 11, 1892.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MILTON C. NILES, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS.

RAIL-JOINT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Batent N 0. 484,228, dated October 11,1892,

Application filed November 17 1891. Serial No.412,12'7- (No model.) I.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MILTON O. NILEs,a citizen of the United States, residing at Oak Park, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of joints employed at the meeting ends of the rails for binding the latter in alignment and preventing the downward bending of their extreme ends, especially where such ends come between two cross-ties, and at other points where there is no firm support beneath them.

' The desired end to be attained in the construction of rail-joints is to have them of the same strength or rigidity as the rails, but not greater, for where the joints are more rigid and less elastic than the rails themselves they in effect form lumps in the track, which, though imperceptible to the eye, impart to the moving train a tremor or vibration which is unpleasant to the passengers and very detrimental to the rolling-stock. The prime object of my invention therefore is to provide a joint of this character which shall consist of a minimum number of parts, and will be simple of construction and easy of manipulation.

With these ends in View my invention consists in certain features of noveltyin the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described in connection with the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the said drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of the meeting ends of the two rails having my improved joint applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same, taken on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but on a smaller scale, showing the joint supplementedat about its midlength by a truss and illustrating, substantially, the relative proportions of the parts. Fig.4 is a transverse section taken on the line t 5, Fig. 3, but on an enlarged scale, showing the truss loose or untightened. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing the truss tightened up. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the truss-plate, a portion of one of its upright flanges being broken away in order to disclose a slot for the passage of a bolt, as hereinafter (described. ,Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the angle irons or plates, drawn to the'same scale as Fig. 3;and Fig. 8 is a perspective view, on the same scale, of the truss-bolt bearing-block. I

In the drawings, wherein like signs of reference indicate like parts throughout the -several views, A indicates the rails, which are supported, if desired, upon the cross-ties B in any Well-known and usual manner, and which rails maybe of the ordinary oranysuitablecon struction, having the usual bolt-holes or perforations formed in their webs 0, near their ends, about midwaybetween their foot-flanges D and heads E. On eitherside of the webs (l, resting longitudinally upon the foot-flanges, is an angleiron or plate, whose bottom flange F is inclined or beveled on its under side, as shown, so that the upright flange G of such angle-plate may ee substantially vertical when the plate is in position on the rail. The flanges F project inward toward the rails and form bearings for two outwardly-inclined brace-plates H, whose upper edges impinge the rails under their heads E in the corner or angle at the junction of the webs and the heads, and at their lower edges they rest in the angle or corner formed by the horizontal and upright flanges F G. Thusit will be seen that press ure applied to the angle-plates for, forcing them inward will cause the brace-plates H to wedge under the rail-heads and impinge the latter with great force, and thereby, firmly support the meeting ends of the railsagainst downward bending under the pressure of the passing train. It will be seen, furthermore, that the rails are thus supported without the employment of a base-plate, which plate, it will be understood, is objectionable for the reason that where it is located and rests upon the cross-tie it forms a more solid and rigid support than the rail has throughout the balance of its extent. This bindingaction of the brace-plates,it will be observed,will be produced whether the inward movement of the angle-plates is a bodily movement or whether such plates are caused to simply tip inward at the upper edgesoftheir flanges G, turning on the inner edges of the flanges F, and thus raising the brace-plates upward and inward after the manner of leversfulcruming upon the foot-flanges of the rails.

As the majority of rails now in use and manufactured are already provided with the bolt-holes near their ends, before referred to, for the attachment of theordinary fish-plates,I purpose adapting myjoint to such form of rails and utilizing such bolt-holes for its attachment thereto without the necessity for any alteration whatever in the form of the rail. To this end I extend the upright flanges G upward sufficiently far to enable me to provide them with bolt-holes, which will be coincident with the usual bolt-holes in the rails abovereferred to, so that bolts I may be passed through these holes in the'webs of the rails and also through the flanges G of both angleplates. These bolts I are preferably arranged one near each end of the joint, as shown in Fig. 1,- and they serve for thethreefold purposeof drawing the angle-plates inward, in order to cause the brace-plates to bind the rails, and also for 'thepurposeof preventing longitudinal creeping of the brace-plates, (which are about equal in length to the distance between the said bolts,) as well as preflanges G at a point above the plane of contactbetween the said flanges and the brace-plate the angle-plates will tip inward slightly at their upper edgesthat is, at the tops of flanges G-thus throwing the bulk of the weight upon. the inner edges of the flanges F, and thereby rendering thejointsufficiently elastic.

The joint thus described is complete in itself; but it may be greatly strengthened, if found necessary or desirable, by means of my improved truss, which I will now describe. This truss consists of a plate M, which passes under the rails at their meeting ends and is provided on bothsides with an upturned flange N 0, respectively. The flange N may be provided with any suitable form of lug turned inwardly over an outwardly-projecting flange P, formed integrally with the angle-plate on that side. It is very obvious that such a lug might be cast or otherwise formed integrally with the flange N; but it is found that it wouldbe diflicult, if not impossible, to roll the truss-plate with such a lug, and therefore I prefer to form the lugsby driving or jamming short stout rivets Q through lateral holes in the flange N in the manner more clearly shown in Fig. 6. These lugs Q, which are preferably two in number, engage over the flange P, and thus securely support the truss on one side of the rail, while on the other side it is supported by means of a vertical bolt R, which passes through a trans versely elongated slot S about midway of the length of the truss-plate, but to one side of the rail-flange, so as to permit the inward or transverse movement of such bolt without striking such flange. The lower end of the bolt is preferably provided with a head, upon which the truss rests, and just above such head with a squared portion T, which fits the slot S, and thus prevents the turning of the bolt while its tap or nut U is being screwed thereon. The bolt R also passes through a perforation V in an outwardly-projecting flange WV on the angle-plate on this side of the rail, and in order that its nut U may be elevated sufficiently above the flange 0 so as to be accessible a bearingblock X, having a perforation or bore Y for the passage of the bolt, is interposed between the nut and the flange W, it being provided with an extension Y for the purpose of forming a sufficient bearing-surface for the nut II.

In order that the full force of the truss may be felt directly under the center or web of the rail, I provide the plate M on its upper side longitudinally of the rails with a boss or elevated portion a, which is arranged under the webs of rails and constitutes a fulcrum for the truss, thus concentrating the entire pressure of the truss at this point.

In order that the bolts I may be assisted in drawing the angle-plates inward andthe truss held against transverse movement, I provide the upright flange O witha number of lateral set-bolts b,preferably one at each end of the flange O, which impinge against the outer edge of the flange W, as shown in Fig. 5, thus tending to draw the truss transversely of the rail and at the same time forcing the angle-plates inward.

As before described, the pressure of the bolts I tendsto tip the angle-plates inward and throw the bulk of the weight upon the inner edges of the flanges F; but it will be seen that when the bolt R is tightened up by means of its nut U this unequal strain on the angle-plates will be counteracted by the lugs Q pulling downward on the flange P on one of the angle-plates and the bearing-block Y producing a similar action on the flange W of the other bearing-plate, thus bringing the flanges F down squarely upon the foot-flanges of the rails and forming a firm and unyielding support forthe brace-plates II, leaving the joint in such case dependent upon the flexibility of the plate M for its elasticity. The degree of this elasticity, however, may be increased or diminished at will by turning the nut U more or less on the bolt R.

In the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the flanges P Won the angle-plates, respectively, may be omitted, if desired; but I prefer to form the plates with such flanges for the sake of greater strength and for the further purpose of providing notches or perforations through which to drive spikes for anchoring the joint to the ties. It is also obvious that the flanges G might be provided with tie-bolts,

such as the bolts I, passing through them and the rail at other points throughout their extent; but when such are employed it would of course be necessary to extend them through the brace-plates H, and for this reason I prefer to employ but the two bolts, one at each end of the joint, thus avoiding the weakening of the brace-plates which would be entailed by forming perforations therein.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is-

l. In a rail-joint, the combination, with the rails, of the brace-plates engaging saidrails,

angle-plates supported upon the rails andupon which said brace-plates are supported, and bolts passing through the rails for drawing said angle-plates toward each other, substantially as set forth.

2. In a rail-joint, the combination, with the rails, of the brace-plates engaging said rails, angle-plates supported by the flanges of the rails and having inwardly-projecting flanges upon which said brace-plates are supported, and upright flanges and bolts for drawing said upright flanges toward each other, substantially as set forth.

3. In a rail-joint, the combination, with the rails, of inclined brace-plates engaging under the heads of the rails, angle-plates having horizontal wedge-shaped flanges resting on the rail-flanges and supporting said brace-plates, respectively, and upright flanges, and bolts passing through said upright flanges, substantially as set forth.

4. In 'a rail-joint, the combination, with the 1 rails, of the brace-plates engaging under the heads of the rails, angle-plates upon which said brace-plates rest, and bolts passing through the rails and through said angleplates at both ends of the brace-plates, substantially as set forth.

5. In a rail-joint, the combination, with the rails, of brace-plates engaging said rails, angle-plates upon which said brace-plates bear, supported by the rails, a truss passing under the rails and being supported by said angleplates, and bolts for forcing said truss upward and the angle-plates inward, substantially as set forth.

6. In a rail-joint, the combination, with the rails, of brace-plates engaging the rails, angleplates upon which said brace-plates are supported, bolts for forcing said angle-plates toward the brace-plates, a truss passing under the rails and having a boss bearing against the under side of the rails, and means for clamping the rails and truss together, substantially as set forth.

7. In a rail-joint, the combination, with the rails, of brace-plates engaging theheads of the rails, angle-plates upon which said braceplates are supported, a'truss passing under the rails and being adj ustably clamped to said angle-plates, and bolts for forcing said angle-plates inward, substantially as set forth.

8. In a rail-joint, the combinatiomwith the rails, of brace-plates engaging the rails, angleplates upon which said brace-plates rest,havi'ng outwardly-projecting flanges, a truss supported at one side on one of said flanges, a bolt supporting the other side of said truss on the other of said flanges, and a set-bolt in said truss impinging against one of said angle-plates, substantially as set forth.

'9. In a rail-joint, the combination, with the rails, of brace-plates engaging said rails, angle-plates upon which said brace-plates are supported, bolts for drawing said angle-plates toward the brace-plates, a truss having lugs resting on the angle-plate on one side and having an upturned flange at its other side, a set-bolt passing through said upturned flange and impinging against the other of said angle-plates, and a bolt passing through a slot in'and supporting said truss and having a bearing on one of said angle-plates, sub stantially as set forth.

10. In a rail-jointjthe combination, with the rails, of the brace-plates engaging the heads of the rails, angle-plates upon which said brace-plates rest, having outturned flanges, bolts for forcing said angle-plates toward the brace-plates, a truss passing under the rails and engaging one of said angle-plates on one side and having an upturned flange at its other side, set-bolts passing through said upturned flange and impinging the other of said angle-plates, a bearing-block supported upon said other angle-plate, and a bolt passing through said block, the angle-plate, and the truss, substantially as set forth.

MILTON C. NILES.

Witnesses:

R. 0. OMOHUNDRO, F. A. HOPKINS. 

